Hinge structure



J. RUDNICK HINGE STRUCTURE March 1, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30,1963 INVENTOR. L/HCK Rum/1dr BY 2 g ATTORNEY March '1, 1966 J. RUDNICK3,237,239

HINGE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jnc/fRUD/V/CK BY 3% Wm AT TORN EY United States Patent 0 Filed Aug. 30, 1963,Ser. No. 305,793 4 Claims. c1. 16-145 The present invention relatesgenerally to improvements in hinge devices and it relates moreparticularly to improvements in folding door hinge structures andmechanisms.

Folding or accordian type doors are highly preferred over conventionaldoors under many conditions. Thus Where the opening is relatively wideor where the access space is relatively small as is frequently the casewith the access openings to closets, the use of the hinged single paneldoor is accompanied by many drawbacks which are overcome by the use of afolding type door. The folding door is typified by one or more pairs ofside by side rectangular panels which are hinged to each other alongtheir adjacent or inner edges and the outer corners pivotally engage anoverhead track registering with the door opening, at least one of thecorners being slidable along the track thereby permitting the closingand the folding or opening of the door. The folding door structuresheretofore proposed and available leave much to be desired in many ofthe features. It is the usual practice to connect adjacent panels ofeach pair by a longitudinally extending piano hinge, the leaves of whichare screw connected to the confronting end faces of the adjacent panels.This arrangement is not only costly but results in a relatively weakstructure which can not withstand rough handling. Inward pressureagainst the hinged areas of the panels results in a strong pulling forceon the hinge connecting screws and often causes the withdrawal thereoffrom the panels. This is particularly true where the panels are formedof composition board as is commonly the practice.

It is generally desirable to spring urge the folded door alternativelyto its open or closed position. This has heretofore been affected byconnecting a tension spring between the adjacent panels to normally urgethe panels to their open or closed position. Here again, thisarrangement is expensive, requiring the recessing of door panels andalso possesses the drawback that the door can not normally be maintainedin any desired position between its fully open and fully closedposition.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to providean improved door structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hingemechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedhinge arrangement in folding door structures.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedhinge assembly for folding door structures which maintains the door inany selected position and alternatively releasably locks the door in itsfully open or fully closed position.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a hingeassembly of the above nature characterized by its low cost, ease ofapplication, ruggedness, and reliability.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a two unit folding door structureembodying the present invention, one of the folding door units beingshown in its fully open posi- 3,237,239 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 tion andthe other of the folding door units being shown in its fully closedposition.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a rear fragmentary elevational view illustrating the hingeassembly in the door closed position.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURES 2 and 3 with the door panels inthe position intermediate the closed and open positions.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a rear perspective view of the assembled hinge structure inits closed position.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 38in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 99in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 10 is an exploded plan view of the hinge sections, the associatedcam and follower being diagrammatically illustrated by broken line.

FIGURE 11 is an exploded end view thereof.

As applied to a folding door the present invention contemplates astructure comprising a pair of side by side first and second panels, ahinge having first and second hinge sections connected to respective ofsaid panels to swingably connected said panels, a cam mounted on andmovable with one of said hinge sections and a cam follower mounted onand movable with the other of said hinge sections and spring urged intoengagement with said cam.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the panel hingeassembly which includes a pair of complementary hinge sections providedwith registering aligned knuckles along their adjacent edges and apintle engaging said knuckles, said hinge sections having a first pairof longitudinally offset leaves afiixed to said panel end faces and asecond pair of longitudinally offset leaves substantially perpendicularto said first leaves and afiixed to said panel rear faces, said firstleaves being in substantially coplanar end to end relationship andsandwiched between said panel end faces when said panels are in theirside by side positions.

According to a preferred form of the present folding door structure afirst of said hinge sections includes a longitudinally extending stripprovided with longitudinally spaced intermediate and opposite endknuckles and having an intermediate inwardly offset substantiallyparallel intermediate leaf and opposite perpendicular end leavesdirected outwardly from the free edge of said strip. The second of thehinge sections likewise includes a longituclinally extending stripprovided with knuckles interdigitating the first hinge section knucklesand having longitudinally spaced coplanar end leaves and an intermediateoutwardly directed perpendicular leaf. The second hinge section strip iscut out at its medial area and along the corresponding inner edge of theintermediate leaf and the cam is provided with a radial slot and tightlyembraces the first hinge section intermediate knuckle and thecorresponding strip section and the cam follower is defined by a leafspring mounted on the second hinge section intermediate leaf and bearingon the cam surface.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention as applied to a two section folding door structureassociated with a closet opening, the reference numerals 10 and 11generally designate inner and outer rectangular door panels of oppositepairs thereof, the adjacent edges of the panels 10 and 11 being hingedto each other in the manner hereinafter set forth. A longitudinaloverhead guide bar 12 is aflixed to the head of the closet opening andis friction- 3 ally engaged by the upper channel section 13 of a trackmember provided with a longitudinally extending downwardly directedchannel shaped track 14 having side legs terminating in inwardlydirected flanges 16. A first journal block 17 associated with each pairof door panels is positioned in and locked to the track 14 and has avertical socket 18 formed therein. A second journal member 19 is mountedon the sill of the closet opening in alignment with each journal socket18.

A first bracket 20 is affixed to the upper inner corner of each doorpanel 10 and is provided with an upwardly directed pin 21 rotatablyregistering with the socket 18. A second bracket 22 is atfixed to thelower inner corner of each inner panel 10 and is provided with avertical tapped bore engaging the threaded shank of a pivot pin 23 whichrotatably engages the journal member 19. Mounted on the outer uppercorner of the outer door panel is a bracket 24 provided with an upwardlydirected pin carrying a track follower wheel 26 which slidably registerswith the track 14. A detailed description of the door panel mountingstructure is given in the copending application of Jack Rudnick, SerialNo. 259,327 filed February 18, 1963.

The door panels 10 and 11 of each pair thereof are hinged to each otheralong their adjacent edges by a pair of vertically spaced hinges 27. Thepanel 10 includes a rear face 28, a front face 29 and an end face 30 andthe panel 11 includes a rear face 32, a front face 33 and an end face34. When the door panels are in their extended or closed position, thepanel faces 28 and 32 are coplanar as are the faces 29 and 33 and theend faces 30 and 34 are in confronting and parallel relationship.

Each of the hinges 27 comprise a pair of complementary first and secondhinge sections 36 and 37, each preferably formed of a unitary metalstamping of sheet steel or other suitable material. The first hingesection 36 includes a longitudinally extending strip 38 having formedalong its inner edge longitudinally spaced aligned knuckles includingopposite end knuckles 39 and a medially located knuckle 40. A mediallylocated leaf 41 extends transversely from and substantially parallel tothe strip 38, the leaf 41 being inwardly offset relative to the strip 38approximately the thickness of the material forming the hinge section toa plane passing through the knuckle axis. Flanking the leaf 41 andperpendicular thereto are opposite end leaves 42 projecting from thelongitudinal edge of the strip 38.

The second hinge section 37 includes a longitudinally extending strip 43interrupted by a medially located recess 44. The strip 43 has locatedalong its inner longitudinal edge and extending from opposite sides ofthe recess 44 to points short of the ends of the strip 43, a pair ofsymmetrical aligned knuckles 46. A medially located leaf 47 projectsfrom the outer longitudinal edge of the strip 43 and is perpendicularthereto. A recess is formed in the leaf 47 along its inner edge inregistry with the recess 44. Flanking the leaf 47 and extending from thelower side edges of the strip 43 are opposite end leaves 48 coplanarwith the strip 43. In the assembled hinge the knuckles 46 interdigitatethe knuckles 39 and 40 and a pintle 49 registers with the alignedknuckles 39, 40 and 46. Each of the hinge leaves have screw receivingopenings formed therein to permit their securement to the door panels.

A cam 51 formed of metal, nylon or other suitable material is mounted onand rotatable with the first hinge section 36 and has formed therein anaxial bore tightly engaging the knuckle 40 and a radial slotcommunicating with the axial bore and tightly embracing the strip 43.The cam 51 has opposite flat depressed end cam sections 52 and 53parallel to the strip 38 and leaf 41 and an intermediate raised arcuatesection 54 coaxial with the pintle 49. Both sides of the cam 51 extendsubstantially to the lower edge of the strip 38, the underface 56 of thecam 51 extetnding from the flat section 53 is downwardly inclined to thestrip 38 to permit the free unimpeded swinging of the leaf 47 relativethereto.

Mounted on and movable with the second hinge section 37 and resilientlyengaging and bearing against the cam 51 is a cam follower member 57formed of any suitable leaf spring material such as spring steel orberyllium copper band or the like. The follower member 57 includes aU-shaped anchoring section 58 embracing the leaf 47 and extending aboutthe inner edge thereof in registry with the recess 50. The lower arm 59of the anchoring section 58 underlies the leaf 57 and the upper arm 63thereof extends rearwardly along and beyond the top face of the leaf 47.The arm 60 is joined by an arcuate section 61 to a forwardly extendingarm 62 which terminates in an upwardly directed leg 63 resilientlybearing on the cam 51.

In the assembled condition of the hinges 27 with the associated panels10 and 11, the hinge section 36 engages the inner rear corner of thepanel 11 and the hinge section 37 engages the inner rear corner of theadjacent panel 16. The leaves 42 overlie the panel rear face 28 beingspaced therefrom by shims or washers 64 the thickness of the followerleg 59, and the leaf 41 is superimposed on the panel end face 30. Theleaf 47 overlies the panel rear face 32 and is spaced therefrom by shimscorresponding to the shims 64 and the leaves 48 are superimposed on thepanel end face 34. The hinge leaves are fastened to the respective panelfaces by screws registering with screw openings formed in the hingeleaves and engaging the panels 10 and 111.

Considering now the operation of the door and hinge structure describedabove, in the closed condition of the folding door the panels 10 and 11are in end to end relationship as seen in FIGURE 1 and the hinge leaves41 and 48 are in coplanar end to end arrangement and tightly sandwichedbetween the panel end faces 36 and 34. The follower leg 63 bears on thecam depressed fiat 53. In opening the folding door the mutually hingedsections of the door panels are pulled forward to swing the panels abouttheir inner and outer edges and mutually about their adjacent edges, theouter edge of the panel 11 moving laterally along the door opening. Thefollower leg 63 travels out of engagement with the depressed flat 53into engagement with the arcuate raised cam section 54, as seen inFIGURE 5, in which position the cam follower is highly stressed andfirmly maintains the door panels in any selected position between itsopened and closed position. As the door panels are opened further to aposition closely approaching their fully opened position, the followerleg 63 passes the cam arcuate raised section 54 and by reason of thepressure thereon by the follower member 57 the panels are urged towardtheir fully opened position. In the fully opened position of the doorpanels, the follower leg 63 engages the cam depressed flat 52 toreleasably lock the door panels on their fully open position. Thefolding door may be closed by moving the panels 10 and 11 toward theirextended positions whereby the follower leg 63 travels by the camdepressed flat 52 along the cam arcuate section 54 and as it passes thecam section 54 it urges the panels to their fully closed end to endposition with the follower leg engaging the cam flat 53 to releasablylock the door panels in their fully closed position.

It should be noted that by reason of each of the hinge sections 36 and37 being secured to the end and rear faces of the respective panels 1%and 11, the assembly can withstand relatively high pressure against theouter faces of the panels 10 and 11 in the area of their confrontinghinged edges without any pulling away or detachment of the hingesections from the panels or the weakening of the assembly thereof. Thisfeature provides for a more rugged structure and facilitates the use ofvarious types of composition material for the door panels. Moreover, thehinge assembly directly carrying the resilient opening and closingmechanism including the cam and follower arrangement permits the simple,rapid and economic assembly of the panels.

Although the subject hinge mechanism has been described as applied tofolding doors, where it may be employed to great advantage, it should beunderstood that the improved hinge, and particularly the cam andfollower mechanism, is highly useful with other swinging door structuressuch as cabinet doors, kitchen doors, etc.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations andomissions and additions may be made without departure from the spiritthereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge comprising a pair of complementary first and second hingesections adapted to be secured to adjacent panels of a folding door,said first hinge section having a first longitudinally extending stripprovided along one longitudinal edge thereof with first spaced alignedknuckles and along the other edge thereof with longitudinally spacedleaves alternately perpendicular and parallel to said first strip, saidparallel leaves being inwardly offset relative to said first strip, saidsecond hinge section including a second longitudinally extending stripprovided along one longitudinal edge thereof with second knucklesinterdigitating said first knuckles and along the other edge thereofwith longitudinally spaced leaves alternately parallel and perpendicularto said strip, the leaves parallel to the strips being in substantiallycoplanar end to end relationship and sandwiched between the end faces ofsaid panels when the panels are in a common plane, a cam mounted on aknuckle of the first hinge section and engaging the first strip, and acam follower mounted on a perpendicular leaf of said second hingesection and bearing on said cam to releasably retain the panels indesired angular relationships relative to each other.

2. The hinge structure of claim 1 wherein said cam 5 follower comprisesa leaf spring resiliently bearing on said cam.

3. The hinge structure of claim 1 wherein said cam includes a firstdepressed section and said cam follower registers with said camdepressed section when said panels are in end to end relationship.

4. The hinge structure of claim 3 wherein said cam includes a seconddepressed section opposite to said first depressed section and said camfollower registers with said second depressed section when said panelsare in a substantially parallel relatively folded position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,292 5/1929Regan 16135 X 312,766 2/1885 Schott 16-184 1,199,749 9/ 1916 Richards160233 1,636,019 7/1927 Stuart 16-142 1,640,525 8/1927 Belliveau 161672,656,563 10/1953 Jones 16-141 2,678,463 5/1954 Westphal 16--1802,733,830 2/1956 Ruskin 16-142 2,860,701 11/1958 Wood et al -2062,891,274 6/1959 Bloom.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

M. HENSON WOOD, In, DONLEY, J. STOCKING,

Examiners.

1. A HINGE COMPRISING A PAIR OF COMPLEMENTARY FIRST AND SECOND HINGESECTIONS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO ADJACENT PANELS OF A FOLDING DOOR,SAID FIRST HINGE SECTION HAVING A FIRST LONGITUDINAL EXTENDING STRIPPROVIDED ALONG ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF WITH FIRST SPACED ALIGNEDKNUCKLES AND ALONG THE OTHER EDGE THEREOF WITH LONGITUDINALLY SPACEDLEAVES ALTERNATELY PERPENDICULAR AND PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST STRIP, SAIDPARALLEL LEAVES BEING INWARDLY OFFSET RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST STRIP, SAIDSECOND HINGE SECTION INCLUDING A SECOND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING STRIPPROVIDED ALONG ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF WITH SECOND KNUCKLESINTERDIGITATING SAID FIRST KUCKLES AND ALONG THE OTHER EDGE THEREOF WITHLONGITUDINALLY SPACED LEAVES ALTERNATELY PARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR TOSAID STRAP, THE LEAVES PARALLEL TO THE STRIPS BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLYCOPLANAR END TO END RELATIONSHIP AND SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE END FACES OFSAID PANELS WHEN THE PANELS ARE IN COMMON PLANE, A CAM MOUNTED ON AKNUCKLE OF THE FIRST HINGE SECTION AND ENGAGING THE FIRST STRIP, A CAMFOLLOWER MOUNTED ON A PERPENDICULAR LEAF OF SAID SECOND HINGE SECTIONAND BEARING ON SAID CAM TO RELEASABLY RETAIN THE PANELS IN DESIREDANGULAR RELATIONSHIPS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER.